Nursing career well timed for Rockingham resident
The door to nursing is opening for RGH’s Mackenzie Bennett.
Mackenzie Bennett is one of 15 nursing and midwifery graduates who started at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) this month.
With this year’s RGH intake aged between 21 and 48, Ms Bennett (38) of Rockingham, is joining the nursing profession at the later end of the range.
Ms Bennett completed a part-time university course with the support of her husband and girls, aged 11 and 8.
She said having extra life experiences as a graduate nurse was a bonus, but the role was still challenging.
“Originally I studied psychology, but I soon switched to nursing because I realised I wanted that one-to-one interaction with the people I was caring for,” Ms Bennett said.
“The minute I went on my first prac I knew it was the right move.
“My daughters also think it’s very cool – I’ve always shared a lot with them and we talked about physiology and biology as I studied these subjects.”
The RGH graduates, including 13 registered nurses and two midwives, are starting in the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, which honours the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale.
RGH Director of Nursing and Midwifery Heather Pearce welcomed the group.
“Graduates bring many different experiences and skills to the role, and I look forward to their input across the year as they begin their career in the nursing and midwifery profession,” Ms Pearce said.
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